Overview
Lake Manyara sits beneath the Rift Valley escarpment. A compact park, it packs in lush forest with baboons and blue monkeys, open floodplains with buffalo and giraffe, and a shallow lake that draws flamingos and pelicans.
Lake Manyara National Park runs along the foot of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. You enter through a groundwater forest of tall fig and mahogany trees, home to baboons and blue monkeys, before the woodland opens onto the alkaline lake, where flamingos and pelicans gather when water levels suit them.
The park is small enough for a half-day or full-day visit, and it fits easily between Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater. The Maji Moto hot springs lie at its southern end.
Highlights
- Tree-climbing lions
- Flamingos and pelicans
- Treetop walkway
- Mto wa Mbu village nearby
Things to do here
Wildlife to look for
- Tree-climbing lion
- Flamingo
- Baboon
- Elephant
- Hippo
- Blue monkey
Good to know
Best time to visit
All year; birding Nov–Apr
Getting there
About 2 hours by road from Arusha, at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment.
Where to stay
Lodges on the escarpment rim, or guesthouses in Mto wa Mbu.
How long to stay
Half to full day
Key facts
- Established
- 1960
- UNESCO
- Part of the Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve
- Habitats
- Groundwater forest, woodland, alkaline lake, hot springs
Seasons
Dry season (June – October)
Good for large mammals, including elephants and the park’s famous tree-climbing lions.
Green season (November – April)
The best time for birdwatching, when migrant birds arrive and the lake fills.
Practical tips
- Tree-climbing lions are not guaranteed: enjoy them as a bonus.
- Stay on the escarpment rim for views over the lake and the Rift Valley.
Questions about Lake Manyara National Park
All year; birding Nov–Apr.
Itineraries visiting Lake Manyara National Park
More places nearby
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